And while we all have different parenting methods – some that work, some that don’t – sometimes looking at how other people do it can make us re-think our own ways.
Here are six tips we’ve taken from French parents that we are totally going to embrace in our own lives.
1. Skip the childcare guilt
French mums believe that sending their child to crèche is the best thing for them – so much so these facilities are in high demand. We, on the other hand, tend to shroud ourselves in guilt for putting our kids in daycare because we have to go to work.
2. You are in charge
According to French mums, presenting yourself as a non-negotiating authority figure is the best way to get your kids to behave - when you say no, make sure you sound like you mean it!
3. Let your kids play, alone
You don’t need to be hovering over your children ordering them to do things a certain way or pushing them to be the very best. In France, you are likely to see parents allowing their children use their imagination to play, not standing beside them showing them how to complete the obstacle course correctly.
4. Family time is more important
We all try to squeeze family time in around our extremely busy lives, but in France family life takes precedent. Driving kids to various activities is not a Saturday norm in this European country.
5. Kids eat what the adults eat
In France you won’t find kids munching on plain chicken because they don’t like the sauce, they are expected to eat what the adults eat, and at the same time.
6. Mums make time for themselves
Being an individual is just as important to French women as being a mum is. They continue with hobbies and interests even after they have children – they consider their own well-being just as vital as their kids’.
